Barcelona Finds Lewandowski's Replacements

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17/10/26 18:30:00

6.50 5.00 1.38

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The Barcelona transfer market has found a collective solution to the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres: distributing goals among several attackers and resorting to Hansi Flick's false nine. In the first ten official matches of the 2026-27 season, the team has scored 43 goals, with contributions from players like Fermín López, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Gabriel Jesus, Anthony Gordon, and Karim Adeyemi.

Barcelona opts for shared goal-scoring after Lewandowski's departure

The departure of Lewandowski to Chicago Fire, announced on June 29, 2026, left Barcelona without the center forward who had led their attack in recent seasons. The exit of Ferran Torres to Paris Saint-Germain, made official on August 15, further limited Flick's options to occupy that position with a natural number nine.

The German coach has responded with alternatives that vary depending on the opponent. Instead of seeking a direct replacement for Lewandowski, he uses players with the ability to arrive from deep positions, interchange roles, and create space for their teammates.

The most recent test came on October 13, in the 4-1 victory over Galatasaray in the Champions League. Dani Olmo started as the false nine, and Barcelona came from behind with goals from João Cancelo, Fermín, Gordon, and Adeyemi. Four different scorers contributed to a victory that showcased the offensive variety of the squad.

Raphinha, Fermín, and Dani Olmo broaden the alternatives

Raphinha provides a route from the wing and can also attack central areas. Despite missing recent games due to muscle discomfort, the Brazilian leads the team in goals. His mobility allows Flick to occasionally do without a fixed striker without sacrificing presence in the penalty area.

Fermín López contributes arrivals from midfield and the ability to finish plays. His goal against Galatasaray at the beginning of the second half gave Barcelona the lead and confirmed that the team can find goal scorers beyond the wide players.

Dani Olmo, on the other hand, is an option to act as a false nine. His role involves moving away from the center-forward position, dropping into the lines, and linking up with players attacking the spaces. Flick utilized this tactic in Istanbul to facilitate ball circulation under pressure.

Gabriel Jesus, Gordon, and Adeyemi complete the attack

The squad also features Gabriel Jesus, signed from Arsenal in September. The Brazilian can play as a center forward and scored in the 3-0 win against Getafe on October 10, a match where he replaced Raphinha as the main attacking reference.

Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi bring speed and the ability to beat opponents from the wings, but both can also operate in central positions. Gordon netted against Getafe and Galatasaray, while Adeyemi sealed the European victory coming off the bench.

The 43 goals in ten matches amount to an average of 4.3 goals per game. It is a collective record reflecting Barcelona's attacking start, but it does not necessarily indicate that each forward has individually outperformed Lewandowski's numbers: these are different comparisons, and the season is still ongoing.

Flick's next challenge will be sustaining this productivity as the schedule intensifies. The rotation between Gabriel Jesus as the nine and Olmo or Fermín as false forwards will allow Barcelona to assess which formula yields better results without depending on a single goal scorer.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Barcelona encuentra a los sustitutos de Lewandowski